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The Duke's Wayward Wallflower
“A Duke's taciturn demeanor does not necessarily indicate a black heart.
Although . . . sometimes it does. Tread with care.” — Lady Greta, a truly dreadful chaperone
There's no love lost between this shy wallflower and society's most formidable duke. The Duke of Mandrick has made it clear he's only aiding Felicity's successful entrance into society because he's taken pity on his friend's poor country relation.
Luckily for Felicity, her chaperone Lady Greta has agreed to tutor her in the art of flirtation. And since the coldhearted duke is the last man to fall for her charms, he's the perfect man to practice on. However, when her attempts to flirt are an epic fail, it's the duke who comes to her rescue. And when she faints on the dance floor in front of all of society, it's his strong arms that are holding her when she wakes. Gazing up into his warm, dark eyes, she's left with one crucial question.
If the duke caught her on the dance floor . . . why does she still feel like she's falling?
A sweet, standalone regency romance filled with witty banter, swoony kisses, and ballroom shenanigans.
Although . . . sometimes it does. Tread with care.” — Lady Greta, a truly dreadful chaperone
There's no love lost between this shy wallflower and society's most formidable duke. The Duke of Mandrick has made it clear he's only aiding Felicity's successful entrance into society because he's taken pity on his friend's poor country relation.
Luckily for Felicity, her chaperone Lady Greta has agreed to tutor her in the art of flirtation. And since the coldhearted duke is the last man to fall for her charms, he's the perfect man to practice on. However, when her attempts to flirt are an epic fail, it's the duke who comes to her rescue. And when she faints on the dance floor in front of all of society, it's his strong arms that are holding her when she wakes. Gazing up into his warm, dark eyes, she's left with one crucial question.
If the duke caught her on the dance floor . . . why does she still feel like she's falling?
A sweet, standalone regency romance filled with witty banter, swoony kisses, and ballroom shenanigans.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 8, 2022
993 people are currently reading
1428 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 235 reviews
January 1, 2023
So very good
This is a romance, a true romance. Boy meets girl, girl meets boy and they fall in love. He was a curmudgeon, and she was sunshine! It was a match made in Heaven. And I felt the romance every time they looked at each other but there were obstacles, one was his personality. Lol. But it was charming. There are no intimate scenes but it still was so romantic. I loved aunt Greta! She stole the show. I just really loved this book. My last book of the year! Well maybe. Lol.
This is a romance, a true romance. Boy meets girl, girl meets boy and they fall in love. He was a curmudgeon, and she was sunshine! It was a match made in Heaven. And I felt the romance every time they looked at each other but there were obstacles, one was his personality. Lol. But it was charming. There are no intimate scenes but it still was so romantic. I loved aunt Greta! She stole the show. I just really loved this book. My last book of the year! Well maybe. Lol.
August 20, 2022
This book. THIS BOOK.
First of all, I loved it. I could hardly put it down. Secondly, I loved the main characters. The sweet, innocent but intelligent, witty, and playful Felicity contrasted by Mandrick’s stoic, high handedness. I cannot forget Aunt Greta, the giver of flirting lessons and sly matchmaker. The third and last thing, this book was lovely, funny, witty, tender, and endearing with a hint of how is this going to workout.
First of all, I loved it. I could hardly put it down. Secondly, I loved the main characters. The sweet, innocent but intelligent, witty, and playful Felicity contrasted by Mandrick’s stoic, high handedness. I cannot forget Aunt Greta, the giver of flirting lessons and sly matchmaker. The third and last thing, this book was lovely, funny, witty, tender, and endearing with a hint of how is this going to workout.
April 20, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, no spice
This was a good read and at 251 pages it’s a relatively quick read.
This was a good read and at 251 pages it’s a relatively quick read.
September 19, 2022
This is an oddity. A stern and grumpy duke, a shy country girl all at sea in London, and possibly the oddest romance I’ve read in a long time. I like a quirky story, but sometimes this felt a little too out there even for me. And yet, there are some wonderful moments that will stay with me for a long time.
Here’s the premise: Felicity Bishop’s father has just died, and his financial affairs seem to be in something of a tangle. While the helpful family attorney, Mr Beasley, is sorting things out, Felicity is to go to London with her cousin, the very wealthy Earl of Shepley and his sister, Lady Marion. She’s surprised to see the infamous Duke of Mandrick at the funeral, but perhaps it’s because he has an unspoken understanding with Marion. Felicity is at odds with him almost at once. His forbidding countenance reduces her to inarticulate terror, so inevitably he’ll despise her, she’s sure.
Off we go to London, where Felicity is rigged out in the finest of gowns, although in subdued colours because of her mourning, and meets Aunt Greta, who fulfils the eccentric aunt role to perfection. And of course the terrifying duke is hovering around, and having dinner with the family once a week, and reducing Felicity to jelly. When the earl and Marion are invited to the wedding of a friend, Felicity is left to the tender mercies of Aunt Greta and the duke.
Aunt Greta undertakes to instruct Felicity in the not very delicate art of enticing a man to fall in love with her, and this is definitely a highlight of the book. Felicity takes this advice to heart, with predictably disastrous results, fainting in the duke’s arms in the middle of a ball. What she doesn’t realise is that Aunt Greta’s advice is actually working - and not just on the grumpy duke, but on Felicity, too. There are pages and pages of the pair of them suffering with wayward pings and pangs of heart and stomach and limbs and who knows what (lips, mainly; there’s a fixation on lips), and although some of this is very funny, it felt a bit excessive at times. I prefer the palpitations of true love to be a little less overblown.
As a result of this dramatic swooning, the duke sweeps Felicity and Aunt Greta off to his own house so that he can keep an eye on them, and this leads to quite the loveliest scene in the book, in the music room. For once, he sets aside his veneer of dutiful rigidity and she loses her tongue-tied shyness. It’s probably the first time the two of them have been completely natural with each other, and it’s a delight. I’d have liked a lot more of this and less of the pinging and panging.
From here on, it’s all a question of how the duke will escape his understanding with Marion so he can marry Felicity, and I won’t go into details on that. There is some business with the oily Mr Beasley, too, which the duke sorts out handily. The ending irritated me somewhat, because poor Felicity is left in the dark longer than she should be and that’s an unforgivable sin to me.
This is not the book to read if you’re a stickler for historical accuracy. Felicity shouldn’t have been at her father’s burial (ladies just didn’t). Stays weren’t tightly laced in the Regency, since the waistline was so unimportant. The stays were only there to give a smooth columnar silhouette and to push up the bosom. The duke seems to know no other dance but the waltz, which was very rare then and still scandalous for a young unmarried woman, unless approved by the patronesses of Almack’s. And what on earth was Felicity doing even attending balls, let alone dancing, while still in mourning for her father? And finally (you’ll be relieved to hear), the oily Mr Beasley would have been an attorney, not a solicitor (who operated in the Court of Chancery, and didn’t sully his hands with mundane matters of estate business).
There are a fair few Americanisms, too, but if you can set all that aside and read the book as light-hearted entertainment only loosely connected to the Regency, it’s actually a lot of fun. There were a few too many pings and pangs for my taste, which keeps it to four stars, but I recommend it to anyone looking for something a bit different.
Here’s the premise: Felicity Bishop’s father has just died, and his financial affairs seem to be in something of a tangle. While the helpful family attorney, Mr Beasley, is sorting things out, Felicity is to go to London with her cousin, the very wealthy Earl of Shepley and his sister, Lady Marion. She’s surprised to see the infamous Duke of Mandrick at the funeral, but perhaps it’s because he has an unspoken understanding with Marion. Felicity is at odds with him almost at once. His forbidding countenance reduces her to inarticulate terror, so inevitably he’ll despise her, she’s sure.
Off we go to London, where Felicity is rigged out in the finest of gowns, although in subdued colours because of her mourning, and meets Aunt Greta, who fulfils the eccentric aunt role to perfection. And of course the terrifying duke is hovering around, and having dinner with the family once a week, and reducing Felicity to jelly. When the earl and Marion are invited to the wedding of a friend, Felicity is left to the tender mercies of Aunt Greta and the duke.
Aunt Greta undertakes to instruct Felicity in the not very delicate art of enticing a man to fall in love with her, and this is definitely a highlight of the book. Felicity takes this advice to heart, with predictably disastrous results, fainting in the duke’s arms in the middle of a ball. What she doesn’t realise is that Aunt Greta’s advice is actually working - and not just on the grumpy duke, but on Felicity, too. There are pages and pages of the pair of them suffering with wayward pings and pangs of heart and stomach and limbs and who knows what (lips, mainly; there’s a fixation on lips), and although some of this is very funny, it felt a bit excessive at times. I prefer the palpitations of true love to be a little less overblown.
As a result of this dramatic swooning, the duke sweeps Felicity and Aunt Greta off to his own house so that he can keep an eye on them, and this leads to quite the loveliest scene in the book, in the music room. For once, he sets aside his veneer of dutiful rigidity and she loses her tongue-tied shyness. It’s probably the first time the two of them have been completely natural with each other, and it’s a delight. I’d have liked a lot more of this and less of the pinging and panging.
From here on, it’s all a question of how the duke will escape his understanding with Marion so he can marry Felicity, and I won’t go into details on that. There is some business with the oily Mr Beasley, too, which the duke sorts out handily. The ending irritated me somewhat, because poor Felicity is left in the dark longer than she should be and that’s an unforgivable sin to me.
This is not the book to read if you’re a stickler for historical accuracy. Felicity shouldn’t have been at her father’s burial (ladies just didn’t). Stays weren’t tightly laced in the Regency, since the waistline was so unimportant. The stays were only there to give a smooth columnar silhouette and to push up the bosom. The duke seems to know no other dance but the waltz, which was very rare then and still scandalous for a young unmarried woman, unless approved by the patronesses of Almack’s. And what on earth was Felicity doing even attending balls, let alone dancing, while still in mourning for her father? And finally (you’ll be relieved to hear), the oily Mr Beasley would have been an attorney, not a solicitor (who operated in the Court of Chancery, and didn’t sully his hands with mundane matters of estate business).
There are a fair few Americanisms, too, but if you can set all that aside and read the book as light-hearted entertainment only loosely connected to the Regency, it’s actually a lot of fun. There were a few too many pings and pangs for my taste, which keeps it to four stars, but I recommend it to anyone looking for something a bit different.
September 22, 2022
A nice Regency read with good banter and tension. A little predictable at times but it was a solidly entertaining read. The Duke has major Darcy vibes and while Felicity isn’t quite our beloved Elizabeth Bennett at the beginning, she gets her wings at the end. This book actually has 3 points of view - the Duke, Felicity and her cousin, Marian who has an informal marriage understanding with the Duke at the opening of the book. I was pleased with how that part of the story played out and glad there wasn’t more drama around it. The connection with Duke and Felicity felt a little sudden to me but there was plenty of swoon once it hits.
Romantic Content: Kisses
Romantic Content: Kisses
July 27, 2023
Sweet traditional historical with common tropes. The h has social anxiety, the 'judgey' H is attracted and kind to her. So a grumpy H, sweet h, evil OM and caring family members who all try to do the right thing. Then they all find their HEA. I liked it.
August 3, 2025
I started this at 8.41pm intending to read a couple of chapters before bed.... and finished it at 11.30pm. Lighthearted, full of banter and very swoony.
June 21, 2023
2.5
Як-то кажуть, not great, not terrible. Але значно краще, ніж я очікувала від безкоштовної книжки.
Сюжет максимально сфокусований на романтичних стосунках між Фелісіті і герцогом М., не лишаючи якоїсь загадки (інтрига зі спадком не рахується, це було надто очевидно) чи цікавого розвитку персонажів. Однак виконання тексту доволі миле, кумедне, читається легко, я навіть змогла прочитати за один раз (а це про щось говорить, бо я намагалась читати кілька псевдоісторичних любовних романів — і не заходила далі 1 сторінки). Двоюрідні брат і сестра та тітка доволі чарівні, хоч, як і інші персонажі, накинуті одним мазком пензля. Але це хороший мазок — текст не лишає відчуття недосказаності чи зайвості.
Місцями, звісно, мені було незручно від того, що Фелісіті справді видавалася юним недосвідченим підлітком, а герцог М. — таки не в пушку вже. Ще й деякі його фразочки і думки про її юність... Таке враження, наче читаєш романтику між старшокласницею і 30-річним чоловіком. Енівей, спишемо це на троп подібної літератури.
Як-то кажуть, not great, not terrible. Але значно краще, ніж я очікувала від безкоштовної книжки.
Сюжет максимально сфокусований на романтичних стосунках між Фелісіті і герцогом М., не лишаючи якоїсь загадки (інтрига зі спадком не рахується, це було надто очевидно) чи цікавого розвитку персонажів. Однак виконання тексту доволі миле, кумедне, читається легко, я навіть змогла прочитати за один раз (а це про щось говорить, бо я намагалась читати кілька псевдоісторичних любовних романів — і не заходила далі 1 сторінки). Двоюрідні брат і сестра та тітка доволі чарівні, хоч, як і інші персонажі, накинуті одним мазком пензля. Але це хороший мазок — текст не лишає відчуття недосказаності чи зайвості.
Місцями, звісно, мені було незручно від того, що Фелісіті справді видавалася юним недосвідченим підлітком, а герцог М. — таки не в пушку вже. Ще й деякі його фразочки і думки про її юність... Таке враження, наче читаєш романтику між старшокласницею і 30-річним чоловіком. Енівей, спишемо це на троп подібної літератури.
August 24, 2022
I’m still in process of reading it but so far the h has not impressed me one bit! She’s such a timid girl who fumbles and stutters every time she’s around people.. wish she would develop a backbone! It’s very annoying and irritating to read about such a slow character. The duke is a complete jerk so far but honestly I would be irritated by the h too!
May 1, 2023
The Duke's Wayward Wallflower is a cute, clean, sweet romance with a grumpy, serious hero and a socially awkward, sunshine of a heroine.
We first meet Felicity Bishop at her late father's graveside service. Immediately after returning home, Mr. Beasley, her father's solicitor, explains that she is now penniless and must go to live with her cousins, the Earl of Shepley, and his sister Marian in London. They arrive to take her to London, but rounding out this horrible development, the Duke of Mandrick is hovering with no real purpose except to look forbidding and provide some sort of familial support for Marian, his unofficial intended.
Felicity settles in with her cousins just fine, appreciating their help and friendship. Aunt Greta, who lives with them is kind of the fairy godmother/matchmaking type and decides to help Felicity overcome her shyness in public by giving her lessons on comportment, talking to gentlemen, and flirting.
When Marian and Bartholomew (Shepley) are invited to a close childhood friend's wedding, they reluctantly leave Felicity with Aunt Greta, but ask Mandrick to look after her. Mandrick dutifully agrees but gets frustrated with Felicity's social awkwardness. Aunt Greta's tips and tricks begin to work when she attracts attention and suddenly Mandrick gets annoyed. Seeing his bluster, Aunt Greta encourages Felicity to practice flirting on Mandrick since there is no threat as he's practically engaged to Marian.
When Marian and Shepley reach their friends house party to await the wedding, Marian reconnects with Anthony, the boy she once loved who is now a strapping handsome man. They spend time together reconnecting, but there was confusion over which brother is actually marrying and in the middle of dinner Marian realizes it's Anthony, not the other like they thought. Crushed at this turn of events, Shepley and Marian decide to depart for home to spare her broken heart.
Will Marian return to Mandrick and marry as duty dictates? Will Felicity find a beau in Mr. Sorely? Or will Mr. Beasley reappear and court Felicity himself?
I really enjoyed this rather fluffy, but emotion-filled romance. A couple things did bug me but nothing dire. The Duke of Mandrick goes by Mandrick through the entire story. His name was actually William Halworth (you only read this name once in the book), and as gruff and grumpy and serious as he was throughout this whole thing, it would have been nice for him to ask Felicity to use his actual name once he began calling her Felicity or once he started to soften towards her. No one called him William so that could have been a big special privilege. I feel like that would have softened his character up just a bit more since he was not a likeable hero until he began to open up towards the end. Felicity and Mandrick reach a point where they both feel a shift in their friendship, then he kisses her and apologizes for it. After telling her there is no future together, she feels kicked to the curb once again because she's penniless, and could never be what he wanted or needed. But it's fun watching Mandrick get jealous when Sorely pays attention more and Beasley reappears.
Everything gets resolved at a ball, and I really liked Marian's side story with Anthony. I would have liked more, actually but this was a shorter book at 250 pages when this easily could have been fleshed out to a full size novel. I also felt like some parts of the book needed another round of editing. Anyhoo, Mandrick realizes what he has in Felicity so our hero gets his girl, but it's not until the epilogue that you really see the personality changes in Mandrick. I wish there had been more of this. He needed to soften a bit more before finally winning Felicity.
Overall, I really enjoyed this. 4 stars from me. Zero steam, chaste kisses only. I have enjoyed other books by this author and I have more on my Kindle to explore. I look forward to it.
We first meet Felicity Bishop at her late father's graveside service. Immediately after returning home, Mr. Beasley, her father's solicitor, explains that she is now penniless and must go to live with her cousins, the Earl of Shepley, and his sister Marian in London. They arrive to take her to London, but rounding out this horrible development, the Duke of Mandrick is hovering with no real purpose except to look forbidding and provide some sort of familial support for Marian, his unofficial intended.
Felicity settles in with her cousins just fine, appreciating their help and friendship. Aunt Greta, who lives with them is kind of the fairy godmother/matchmaking type and decides to help Felicity overcome her shyness in public by giving her lessons on comportment, talking to gentlemen, and flirting.
When Marian and Bartholomew (Shepley) are invited to a close childhood friend's wedding, they reluctantly leave Felicity with Aunt Greta, but ask Mandrick to look after her. Mandrick dutifully agrees but gets frustrated with Felicity's social awkwardness. Aunt Greta's tips and tricks begin to work when she attracts attention and suddenly Mandrick gets annoyed. Seeing his bluster, Aunt Greta encourages Felicity to practice flirting on Mandrick since there is no threat as he's practically engaged to Marian.
When Marian and Shepley reach their friends house party to await the wedding, Marian reconnects with Anthony, the boy she once loved who is now a strapping handsome man. They spend time together reconnecting, but there was confusion over which brother is actually marrying and in the middle of dinner Marian realizes it's Anthony, not the other like they thought. Crushed at this turn of events, Shepley and Marian decide to depart for home to spare her broken heart.
Will Marian return to Mandrick and marry as duty dictates? Will Felicity find a beau in Mr. Sorely? Or will Mr. Beasley reappear and court Felicity himself?
I really enjoyed this rather fluffy, but emotion-filled romance. A couple things did bug me but nothing dire. The Duke of Mandrick goes by Mandrick through the entire story. His name was actually William Halworth (you only read this name once in the book), and as gruff and grumpy and serious as he was throughout this whole thing, it would have been nice for him to ask Felicity to use his actual name once he began calling her Felicity or once he started to soften towards her. No one called him William so that could have been a big special privilege. I feel like that would have softened his character up just a bit more since he was not a likeable hero until he began to open up towards the end. Felicity and Mandrick reach a point where they both feel a shift in their friendship, then he kisses her and apologizes for it. After telling her there is no future together, she feels kicked to the curb once again because she's penniless, and could never be what he wanted or needed. But it's fun watching Mandrick get jealous when Sorely pays attention more and Beasley reappears.
Everything gets resolved at a ball, and I really liked Marian's side story with Anthony. I would have liked more, actually but this was a shorter book at 250 pages when this easily could have been fleshed out to a full size novel. I also felt like some parts of the book needed another round of editing. Anyhoo, Mandrick realizes what he has in Felicity so our hero gets his girl, but it's not until the epilogue that you really see the personality changes in Mandrick. I wish there had been more of this. He needed to soften a bit more before finally winning Felicity.
Overall, I really enjoyed this. 4 stars from me. Zero steam, chaste kisses only. I have enjoyed other books by this author and I have more on my Kindle to explore. I look forward to it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2023
Her mind raced to call up her aunt’s other advice. Get him talking about himself. “Do you ride, Your Grace?”
She kept an image of that tender look firm in her mind as he glanced down at her with wariness. “I do.”
She waited for a moment for him to elaborate. He did not.
She nearly huffed aloud. How was a woman supposed to work with this?
It makes him all the better to practice on, dear. She could practically hear Aunt Greta’s voice.
Nice romance between Felicity, a country girl forced by circumstances into London society, and the very proper and duty-bound Duke of Mandrick.
Felicity's cousins Lord Bartholomew and Lady Marian are amazing to her and I absolutely enjoyed the secondary romance and the HEA reserved for Marian.
The MC's characters develop while they discover each other and the antagonist, Mr. Beasley, just like the Duke's intentions towards Marian, serves its purpose which is bringing the MC together.
Among the secondary characters Aunt Greta definitely STEALS the show with her wisdom...
“You were flirting, dear, that’s the point.”
She wasn’t given a chance to protest again.
Aunt Greta’s voice was smug. “The fact that His Grace balked means you were doing it right.”
Felicity stopped walking to peer in confusion at Aunt Greta. “That makes no sense.” She shook her head. “If His Grace was so horrified by my attempts to be charming, clearly it is time to quit.”
Aunt Greta’s laugh was more like a cackle. And not a kind one. “Nonsense, my dear.” She leaned over close, her smile still aimed at the gentlemen. “Now it’s time you charm the duke.”
“Aunt Greta!”
“Now, now, don’t get all flustered.”
“But—”
“You said yourself that he is your harshest critic—”
“Well, I didn’t say that, precisely, but—”
“And it’s clear that you are in no danger—”
“No danger?” She frowned.
Aunt Greta’s smile was frighteningly sweet. “Why, yes. You’re clearly not in danger of losing your senses around the man.” She paused meaningfully. “Since you clearly do not care for him.”
Heat burned her neck. Had she said that? “It’s not that I don’t . . . it’s just that he’s so . . . ”
“I understand.” Aunt Greta patted her arm. “Which is why he’ll make for such lovely practice.”
“I . . . are . . . don’t . . . ” Her tongue grew more tangled with each new step Mandrick took in her direction.
“Exactly, dear,” the older woman said.
… and her sense of humor😁
“Nonsense!” Aunt Greta was in fine form that next day as they took a turn about the park. “You mustn’t surrender. Not after all the progress you’ve made.”
Felicity sighed and tightened her grip on Aunt Greta’s arm. “I’m not talking of surrender, Aunt Greta. I’m merely conceding that His Grace made a valid point.”
Aunt Greta scoffed so loudly birds scattered from the trees above. “His Grace doesn’t know his point from his—”
“Aunt Greta!” Felicity turned to her, mouth agape.
The older woman heaved a great sigh and then patted her hand. “Very well, have it your way. The duke is a paragon of truth and virtue.”
“Well, I never said that,” she muttered.
I very much enjoyed the banter which, right along with their chemistry, kept me turning the pages all the way through😊
And oh how the duke despised her attempts to charm. The thought had her stifling a laugh as they walked.
Mandrick’s every glance at her smiling face made him frown, and her laughter and fawning made the muscle in his jaw twitch. Aunt Greta had been correct. He was so very resistant to her attempts to charm, that it made practicing her lessons rather diverting indeed.
“All right, that is enough,” he snapped the moment they walked through the front door nearly an hour later.
“Is something the matter?” She batted her eyelashes.
Planting his hands on his hips he glowered down at her like she was a child.
She made her smile that much sweeter.
“Stop it,” he snapped as he stormed into the parlor.
She followed right behind, laughter in her voice. “Stop what?”
“Whatever it is you’re doing,” he said.
She clasped her hands together and widened her eyes. “You’ll have to be more specific, I’m afraid.”
“You’re . . . you’re . . . flirting,” he sputtered.
Her grin was very real now. Oh but it was truly pleasant to be the calm one for a change. It was outright lovely to watch him sputter and fumble for words for once as she gazed on with a placid demeanor.
Perhaps Aunt Greta had been right all along about this strategy. The woman was brilliant. She made a note to tell her so just as soon as she saw her.
“You . . . ” He jabbed a finger in the general direction of her nose. “You’re still doing it.”
Oh my, he was overset. She bit her lip as she kept her eyes wide and filled with adoration. “Doing what, Your Grace?”
“You’re mocking me.”
“I’m not!” Her eyes widened further in genuine shock this time. “I’m charming you.”
He stared at here.
The silence stretched for much too long. All Felicity could hear was her own heartbeat, and with each passing second she felt more and more trapped by his gaze.
“Pardon?” he finally said.
His mouth barely opened, his jaw was still clenched tight.
“Um, well, that is . . . ” She threw her hands up. “I was trying to charm you.”
His lips twitched.“You were trying to charm me.”
“That’s what I said.” Irritation laced her words. Honestly, why would he think she was mocking him? She was only having some fun. And why did he make it seem as though her charming him was so very inconceivable?
She pouted, all hint of levity gone as she watched him turn over her words.
His lips twitched again and then he . . .
He ducked his head, and an odd choking sound escaped.
It took her a moment to realize what it was. She frowned. “Are you laughing at me?”
He scrubbed a hand over his mouth as he shook his head, but he did not lift his chin either. And his shoulders . . .
Oh drat, his shoulders were shaking.
She huffed. “It is remarkably unkind of you to laugh at me, Your Grace.”
His shoulders shook more.
“I was merely trying to practice—”
His head came up, his eyes gleaming with mirth that he didn’t try to hide. “Practice?”
“Yes! I was merely practicing what Aunt Greta taught me.”
His brows hitched up. “And what, pray tell, did she teach you?”
“Er . . . ” She backed up a step, all her earlier confidence fading in the light of that predatory gleam in his eyes.
He was absolutely much too entertained by her right now.
“I’m not certain she’d wish for me to share her secrets,” she hedged. “In fact, I’d best be going.”
She turned to leave, but the duke was remarkably quick as he stepped in front of her, barring her way. “On the contrary, Felicity.” His lips were curving up in that smile that made her feel breathless. “As your temporary guardian, I must insist . . .
He moved in closer. “What the devil has she been teaching you?”
...lovely banter indeed!
He stopped short, his brow furrowed as he considered this. “You do not wish to win my good opinion?”
She laughed. “Your Grace, if I have not won it by now, surely it is not mine to win.”
His lips twitched. “All hope is not lost.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐stars to this historical romance and Mrs Dallen is a new to me author whose work I'll definitely read more of!
Hero: 3.5 /5
Heroine: 4 /5
Secondary Characters: 4 /5
Plot: 3.5 /5
Writing: 3.5 /5
Chemistry: 4 /5
Steam: no steamy scenes, just great chemistry and kissing.
Triggers: When the MC's meet the H has an understanding with h's cousin but they aren't officially betrothed.
Overall Rating: 4 /5
September 4, 2024
3.5 stars. Enjoyable regency romance!
- dual POV with a bonus POV from another character that highlighted a secondary romance, which I enjoyed.
- Grumpy/sunshine
I liked Felicity’s personality- she is shy, demure, humble and genuine - but I didn’t particularly enjoy when she was self deprecating because she did it in a pathetic manner versus a humorous one. She actually believed she was second-rate and unworthy, which is not particularly attractive, and definitely shouldn’t be confessed repeatedly to a love interest.
I wanted her to have more self worth! More self confidence! When she was ill used by the hero, Mandrick, she said she understood. But I was howling, “No! Don’t ‘understand.’ What he is doing and saying is not okay! You deserve respect! He’s acting like a jerkwad. Don’t accept this, don’t be ‘understanding’ of his crappy excuses. Stand up for yourself!”
At that point I wanted her to play hard to get (she doesn’t need him!) and I wanted him to have to beg to get back into her good graces. Because her cold shoulder and his begging were definitely in order. It didn’t pan out that way, but the conclusion was still mostly satisfying. He didn’t really apologize like I wanted, but he was super sweet at the end.
Content- clean. Some kisses
- dual POV with a bonus POV from another character that highlighted a secondary romance, which I enjoyed.
- Grumpy/sunshine
I liked Felicity’s personality- she is shy, demure, humble and genuine - but I didn’t particularly enjoy when she was self deprecating because she did it in a pathetic manner versus a humorous one. She actually believed she was second-rate and unworthy, which is not particularly attractive, and definitely shouldn’t be confessed repeatedly to a love interest.
I wanted her to have more self worth! More self confidence! When she was ill used by the hero, Mandrick, she said she understood. But I was howling, “No! Don’t ‘understand.’ What he is doing and saying is not okay! You deserve respect! He’s acting like a jerkwad. Don’t accept this, don’t be ‘understanding’ of his crappy excuses. Stand up for yourself!”
At that point I wanted her to play hard to get (she doesn’t need him!) and I wanted him to have to beg to get back into her good graces. Because her cold shoulder and his begging were definitely in order. It didn’t pan out that way, but the conclusion was still mostly satisfying. He didn’t really apologize like I wanted, but he was super sweet at the end.
Content- clean. Some kisses
March 29, 2024
I enjoyed the book! I liked the conflict. Always love when the grumpy man falls for the girl when he’s all business and no emotions.
It was cute and a fast read. I loved the aunt in this book she is very wise and funny haha. Gave great advice to the girls in this book.
It was cute and a fast read. I loved the aunt in this book she is very wise and funny haha. Gave great advice to the girls in this book.
August 14, 2022
4.25 Stars
There's no love lost between this shy wallflower and society's most formidable duke. The Duke of Mandrick has made it clear he's only aiding Felicity's successful entrance into society because he's taken pity on his friend's poor country relation. Luckily for Felicity Bishop, her chaperone Lady Greta has agreed to tutor her in the art of flirtation. And since the coldhearted duke is the last man to fall for her charms, he's the perfect man to practice on. However, when her attempts to flirt are an epic fail, it's the duke who comes to her rescue. And when she faints on the dance floor in front of all of society, it's his strong arms that are holding her when she wakes.
A well written delightful read. I loved the shy Felicity & the grumpy Mandrick, I loved how she gradually came out of shell & how he softened & realised there was more to life than ledgers & improving the dukedom. Their road to a HEA wasn't easy as he was promised to Felicity's cousin & there was something shady about the solicitor. A stand alone read, which made me smile & I devoured it in a couple of sittings
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
There's no love lost between this shy wallflower and society's most formidable duke. The Duke of Mandrick has made it clear he's only aiding Felicity's successful entrance into society because he's taken pity on his friend's poor country relation. Luckily for Felicity Bishop, her chaperone Lady Greta has agreed to tutor her in the art of flirtation. And since the coldhearted duke is the last man to fall for her charms, he's the perfect man to practice on. However, when her attempts to flirt are an epic fail, it's the duke who comes to her rescue. And when she faints on the dance floor in front of all of society, it's his strong arms that are holding her when she wakes.
A well written delightful read. I loved the shy Felicity & the grumpy Mandrick, I loved how she gradually came out of shell & how he softened & realised there was more to life than ledgers & improving the dukedom. Their road to a HEA wasn't easy as he was promised to Felicity's cousin & there was something shady about the solicitor. A stand alone read, which made me smile & I devoured it in a couple of sittings
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
July 28, 2023
Rating: 1.5 out of 5 stars
Version: eBook/Kindle Unlimited
I kept reading “Mandrick” as “Mandick” and honestly that killed the vibe for me.
This was just a bit boring for me. Maybe I just need to stop trying regency romance because it is not working out.
Version: eBook/Kindle Unlimited
I kept reading “Mandrick” as “Mandick” and honestly that killed the vibe for me.
This was just a bit boring for me. Maybe I just need to stop trying regency romance because it is not working out.
June 3, 2024
I adored this book! It had the perfect balance of tension and happily ever afters all around! I loved the “voice” of this author!
This is a book I will want to pick up and read again!
This is a book I will want to pick up and read again!
June 13, 2025
So there’s a lot of talk about “ChatGPT this” and “ChatGPT that”, and how it’s going to take over and do everything for us, but let me just say, it CANNOT give book recommendations!!!!! Every time I attempt to use ChatGPT to find me something specific (or even vague/broad termed), it ALWAYS FAILS. I’m also insane, apparently, because I took another chance, despite constantly being disappointed.
Anyway, I would not recommend this book. The whole thing was about this good, sweet girl, being corrupted and taught how to flirt like a “proper lady”. By the way, this “proper lady” is equivalent to “making a fool of yourself, using people, never being genuine” and a ton of other useless notions. So much about kissing! Too much, and gazing, or glaring.
Also, what on earth was the guy main character??? Mandrick was just— what? I think it was supposed to be “cold-hearted handsome guy turns out to be a romantic sap”, but it went wrong somewhere along the way and it turned into “judgmental guy with trama bullies young girl but then gets jealous/finds her beautiful and wants to kiss her”. I mean, he’s pushed his emotions away for HOW many years, ignored all his memories of his mommy, and it’s not a red flag? I mean, I understand what the author was trying to do, and I guess she sort of accomplished it… it just wasn’t for me. At all.
Anyway, I would not recommend this book. The whole thing was about this good, sweet girl, being corrupted and taught how to flirt like a “proper lady”. By the way, this “proper lady” is equivalent to “making a fool of yourself, using people, never being genuine” and a ton of other useless notions. So much about kissing! Too much, and gazing, or glaring.
Also, what on earth was the guy main character??? Mandrick was just— what? I think it was supposed to be “cold-hearted handsome guy turns out to be a romantic sap”, but it went wrong somewhere along the way and it turned into “judgmental guy with trama bullies young girl but then gets jealous/finds her beautiful and wants to kiss her”. I mean, he’s pushed his emotions away for HOW many years, ignored all his memories of his mommy, and it’s not a red flag? I mean, I understand what the author was trying to do, and I guess she sort of accomplished it… it just wasn’t for me. At all.
March 19, 2023
this was a fun one
I’ve read Maggie Dallen’s more contemporary teen-fiction books and enjoyed them well enough, but I don’t have high expectations for them beyond it just being a fun, enjoyable read.
But I was only looking for a fun, lighthearted read and this got me there.
I’ve read Maggie Dallen’s more contemporary teen-fiction books and enjoyed them well enough, but I don’t have high expectations for them beyond it just being a fun, enjoyable read.
But I was only looking for a fun, lighthearted read and this got me there.
April 1, 2023
This was so cute! What a fun binge read on my kindle. I giggled a lot, this was the perfect palate cleanser after fantasy. I really liked the characters, the plot was predictable- of course, and I wish there was more of a certain couple, BUT I really enjoyed what I read
July 13, 2023
delightful
What a fun novel. I loved the characters, they had depth and flaws. I enjoyed the banter— that can be hard to write. But it was fun.
It was a quick read because of that. The ending might be a bit syrupy sweet but who cares? I enjoyed this book a lot.
What a fun novel. I loved the characters, they had depth and flaws. I enjoyed the banter— that can be hard to write. But it was fun.
It was a quick read because of that. The ending might be a bit syrupy sweet but who cares? I enjoyed this book a lot.
December 28, 2025
I always compare to Austen because she is the OG of regency based romantic fiction & I am so happy this misses the Austen-esque (or Bronte-esque for that matter) tropes. Easy and fun, I now hold high hopes for the sequel!
September 14, 2022
sweet and entertaining
Felicity is a country girl who recently lost her father. Her wonderful, well-to-do cousins bring her to London for a Season. The duke who is almost engaged to Marian, one of the cousins, is cold and intimidating. Poor Felicity turns into a bowl of jelly when around him and most other members of the ton. Aunt Greta and the other secondary characters were also wonderfully written.
Felicity is a country girl who recently lost her father. Her wonderful, well-to-do cousins bring her to London for a Season. The duke who is almost engaged to Marian, one of the cousins, is cold and intimidating. Poor Felicity turns into a bowl of jelly when around him and most other members of the ton. Aunt Greta and the other secondary characters were also wonderfully written.
December 18, 2022
This was such a sweet feel good happy ending kind of romance.
January 16, 2024
Half of the times I’m screaming embarrassed by the story and laughing and giggling over how cute this is
June 23, 2023
1.5 stars
One note characters, utterly predictable—and boring—plot, and writing that goes round and round in repetitive circles. I allotted two stars because of a handful of conversations that felt genuine and the book overall wasn’t dismal or offensively bad, and it was mercifully short and skimmed quickly.
One note characters, utterly predictable—and boring—plot, and writing that goes round and round in repetitive circles. I allotted two stars because of a handful of conversations that felt genuine and the book overall wasn’t dismal or offensively bad, and it was mercifully short and skimmed quickly.
November 16, 2022
So boring. Nothing new to the genre.
December 10, 2022
There’s nothing particularly “wayward” about Miss Bishop Felicity (nor do we really see her being a wallflower)… but misleading title aside, this is a cute little Regency romance.
It was a quick read, and I liked it well enough, but it’s also pretty forgettable. Our main characters are like rough sketches of familiar tropes, rather than fleshed-out people. Felicity’s personality can be summed up as “socially awkward + endearingly candid as it suits the narrative”. Meanwhile, the Duke is the ever-serious-man-of-rank who is allergic to emotion until the pretty country girl charms him without trying. Token “eccentric” aunt slash fairy-godmother-matchmaker who pops up periodically to give strange advice. Etc. Very little of note happens in terms of plot and what tension there is all resolves itself with very little drama or effort. And there’s just nothing about this that stands out as original, interesting, or complex in any way. Which is fine in its own way, but I could take it or leave it.
It was a quick read, and I liked it well enough, but it’s also pretty forgettable. Our main characters are like rough sketches of familiar tropes, rather than fleshed-out people. Felicity’s personality can be summed up as “socially awkward + endearingly candid as it suits the narrative”. Meanwhile, the Duke is the ever-serious-man-of-rank who is allergic to emotion until the pretty country girl charms him without trying. Token “eccentric” aunt slash fairy-godmother-matchmaker who pops up periodically to give strange advice. Etc. Very little of note happens in terms of plot and what tension there is all resolves itself with very little drama or effort. And there’s just nothing about this that stands out as original, interesting, or complex in any way. Which is fine in its own way, but I could take it or leave it.
January 20, 2024
I have read dozens of regency romances now so it is rare when one stands out and holds my attention as much as this one did. I don’t know how to describe it, it just had a unique flavor to me! The characters were fun and quirky but not obnoxiously so. It still had the feel of a regency without being too stuffy. The romance built in such an entertaining way. Felicity not only made the Duke fall in love with her, but she woke up his soul. Is that cheesy? Maybe. But so gooooood. And bonus!!: There was a secondary romance just as cute as well. I definitely highlighted a lot more lines than I normally do. I loved the authors writing. And I loved the advice on how to flirt. The problems the characters faced weren’t mind blowing unique, but just the way they handled them and the personalities of the characters themselves is what stood out to me.
SPOILERS and book notes:
This book starts with Felicity burying her Baron father. But she knows that he is happy in heaven. But is still sad especially bc now she is alone. I like this healthy look on grief. I like that both her cousins while beautiful and rich, were kind! (Bartholomew and Marian). and I like that Felicity has a genuine problem with talking while flustered or with strangers. So she can’t especially while the duke is glaring at her! The duke: “This man was so handsome and so terrifying and so very much a stranger . . . and also a duke.” Yes the dukes perspective!! And he is a prideful man hehe. I can’t wait until he gets brought down a notch or two hehe. And he definitely is not attracted to her at first! YES. Thank goodness. He hates extreme emotions or out ward emotions shown by people hahah. but he did feel protective over her even if he didn’t want to haha. But he hates that he pities her. Felicity is a country girl and hates the city and society and now is being kicked out her home and has to go with her cousins. The Duke will keep an eye out for Felicity while her cousins will be gone. The Duke has some famous last words: ““She’s a good girl. Lively and quick witted,” he said with an affectionate smile. Mandrick frowned over at the girl. He couldn’t imagine two less accurate descriptors, but he was polite enough not to say so. “I’m sure she will be no trouble.”” I love this trick about being good in social situations: “The first thing to understand is that gentlemen might be staring at you, but they are almost always thinking of themselves.” Felicity blinked. “Women too,” Aunt Greta added belatedly. “Everyone, really, is more caught up in thoughts about themselves than the person they’re talking to.” “Well . . . ” Felicity said when it seemed a response was necessary. “That seems rather . . . selfish.” Aunt Greta laughed. “Merely human nature, my dear.” “I see.” “This is a good thing,” she continued. “And once you realize it, your job becomes very simple.” “Does it?” Aunt Greta leaned forward. “You must pretend that you are just as interested in them as they are in themselves.” I love this about blushing: “Good girl. And when you feel yourself blushing?” “Take a deep breath and smile. Pretend I believe that it makes me look prettier than ever.” Aunt Greta chuckled. “Believe it, darling, don’t pretend to believe it.” and when Felicity finds a gentleman charming “imagine him kissing you.” It will be like a magnet and he will be drawn in. A second romance too??? Marian and her childhood friend that she hadn’t seen for years?? Anthony?? He is so sweet and mischievous! I love him! I like that the Duke started falling for Felicity even when she was still soooo socially awkward haha. But man is this man very high handed and demanding. And ALWAYS had a scowl. He truly is a grump. Someone you really wouldn’t like. He doesn’t have a soft heart at the beginning either. I feel like this is also a redemption story. A softening of a hard heart. And that scene when he caught her playing the piano without her knowing. I loved it. He could see her and how she acted while she didn’t feel pressure from being around him. He could see her play with much emotion and feeling! ““Or perhaps I only do the tasks at which I excel.” She looked delighted by his retort. “If I were to do that, I’d do nothing at all. I’d sit in a corner and read all day. Sounds rather lovely, actually.” And another quote: “Do you only pursue activities at which you excel?” She shook her head, and she didn’t wait for his answer. “No, I don’t believe that.” “Why not?” “Because that would be cowardly, and you do not strike me as a coward.” I love that the Duke noticed the most beautiful thing about Felicity: her sincerity and guilelessness. And bc of that then: “For the first time it struck him that what made her such a disaster in social settings was also what made her so enchanting.” Yeahhhh I love that now she can read the Duke behind the glares. That she is the only one that can tell when he is teasing or just bored behind his glare hahaha. “Over my dead body” was what the Duke said when he saw a dud courting to marry Felicity. More great advice from aunt: “Every man wants a woman to smile at him, dear. Look at him as if he commands the world, and he shall be yours to command.” It’s sad bc the Duke has lots of power he thinks that every interaction he has with someone they want something from him. But Felicity makes a good point that that may be how society acts and is but that is not life. ““And what do you know of life?” She smiled. “Not much, I suppose. But I know how animals behave on the farm, and I know how life thrives in the countryside, and there is a shocking lack of manipulation and deceit.” I love the humble country and the lack of fakeness. I looooove this quote soooooo much. “I’d rather be a happy fool than be miserable trying to be perfect.” I love when this Duke apologizes sincerely. “It was something about her that whenever she was near he felt like he was stepping out from under a cloud and into a sunny day.” Awww their first kiss!!! She was sin the middle of saying how she is horrible at gaining admirers and then he just kissed her!! And she kissed him back! I love the moment when the sweet lady breaks the stoic, hard man: “Felicity. He wanted Felicity more than he could bear. He wanted her at his side, in his life, in his bed, and carrying his child.” I love the moment when they fall HARD. Eeeek Marian’s love story is just as cute!!! Her friend came after her and proposed! And sooo seeet! Anthony calls Marian “my love” and the duke calls Felicity “my darling” she says “I love you” first but then the duke says this: ““You love me and you will marry me.” “I beg your pardon?” “Please,” he added. And then, “Sorry. I’m new to this. Shall I phrase it as a question?” “The gossip sheets would be filled with another tale of how the “delightful and charming young beauty from the country” had stolen the duke’s heart. And his dignity, according to some.” Eeeek the way she announced their baby on the way! Ok I’m not going to lie, that was like the best epilogue ever. Tropes: grumpy sunshine, opposites attract, different stations in life
SPOILERS and book notes:
This book starts with Felicity burying her Baron father. But she knows that he is happy in heaven. But is still sad especially bc now she is alone. I like this healthy look on grief. I like that both her cousins while beautiful and rich, were kind! (Bartholomew and Marian). and I like that Felicity has a genuine problem with talking while flustered or with strangers. So she can’t especially while the duke is glaring at her! The duke: “This man was so handsome and so terrifying and so very much a stranger . . . and also a duke.” Yes the dukes perspective!! And he is a prideful man hehe. I can’t wait until he gets brought down a notch or two hehe. And he definitely is not attracted to her at first! YES. Thank goodness. He hates extreme emotions or out ward emotions shown by people hahah. but he did feel protective over her even if he didn’t want to haha. But he hates that he pities her. Felicity is a country girl and hates the city and society and now is being kicked out her home and has to go with her cousins. The Duke will keep an eye out for Felicity while her cousins will be gone. The Duke has some famous last words: ““She’s a good girl. Lively and quick witted,” he said with an affectionate smile. Mandrick frowned over at the girl. He couldn’t imagine two less accurate descriptors, but he was polite enough not to say so. “I’m sure she will be no trouble.”” I love this trick about being good in social situations: “The first thing to understand is that gentlemen might be staring at you, but they are almost always thinking of themselves.” Felicity blinked. “Women too,” Aunt Greta added belatedly. “Everyone, really, is more caught up in thoughts about themselves than the person they’re talking to.” “Well . . . ” Felicity said when it seemed a response was necessary. “That seems rather . . . selfish.” Aunt Greta laughed. “Merely human nature, my dear.” “I see.” “This is a good thing,” she continued. “And once you realize it, your job becomes very simple.” “Does it?” Aunt Greta leaned forward. “You must pretend that you are just as interested in them as they are in themselves.” I love this about blushing: “Good girl. And when you feel yourself blushing?” “Take a deep breath and smile. Pretend I believe that it makes me look prettier than ever.” Aunt Greta chuckled. “Believe it, darling, don’t pretend to believe it.” and when Felicity finds a gentleman charming “imagine him kissing you.” It will be like a magnet and he will be drawn in. A second romance too??? Marian and her childhood friend that she hadn’t seen for years?? Anthony?? He is so sweet and mischievous! I love him! I like that the Duke started falling for Felicity even when she was still soooo socially awkward haha. But man is this man very high handed and demanding. And ALWAYS had a scowl. He truly is a grump. Someone you really wouldn’t like. He doesn’t have a soft heart at the beginning either. I feel like this is also a redemption story. A softening of a hard heart. And that scene when he caught her playing the piano without her knowing. I loved it. He could see her and how she acted while she didn’t feel pressure from being around him. He could see her play with much emotion and feeling! ““Or perhaps I only do the tasks at which I excel.” She looked delighted by his retort. “If I were to do that, I’d do nothing at all. I’d sit in a corner and read all day. Sounds rather lovely, actually.” And another quote: “Do you only pursue activities at which you excel?” She shook her head, and she didn’t wait for his answer. “No, I don’t believe that.” “Why not?” “Because that would be cowardly, and you do not strike me as a coward.” I love that the Duke noticed the most beautiful thing about Felicity: her sincerity and guilelessness. And bc of that then: “For the first time it struck him that what made her such a disaster in social settings was also what made her so enchanting.” Yeahhhh I love that now she can read the Duke behind the glares. That she is the only one that can tell when he is teasing or just bored behind his glare hahaha. “Over my dead body” was what the Duke said when he saw a dud courting to marry Felicity. More great advice from aunt: “Every man wants a woman to smile at him, dear. Look at him as if he commands the world, and he shall be yours to command.” It’s sad bc the Duke has lots of power he thinks that every interaction he has with someone they want something from him. But Felicity makes a good point that that may be how society acts and is but that is not life. ““And what do you know of life?” She smiled. “Not much, I suppose. But I know how animals behave on the farm, and I know how life thrives in the countryside, and there is a shocking lack of manipulation and deceit.” I love the humble country and the lack of fakeness. I looooove this quote soooooo much. “I’d rather be a happy fool than be miserable trying to be perfect.” I love when this Duke apologizes sincerely. “It was something about her that whenever she was near he felt like he was stepping out from under a cloud and into a sunny day.” Awww their first kiss!!! She was sin the middle of saying how she is horrible at gaining admirers and then he just kissed her!! And she kissed him back! I love the moment when the sweet lady breaks the stoic, hard man: “Felicity. He wanted Felicity more than he could bear. He wanted her at his side, in his life, in his bed, and carrying his child.” I love the moment when they fall HARD. Eeeek Marian’s love story is just as cute!!! Her friend came after her and proposed! And sooo seeet! Anthony calls Marian “my love” and the duke calls Felicity “my darling” she says “I love you” first but then the duke says this: ““You love me and you will marry me.” “I beg your pardon?” “Please,” he added. And then, “Sorry. I’m new to this. Shall I phrase it as a question?” “The gossip sheets would be filled with another tale of how the “delightful and charming young beauty from the country” had stolen the duke’s heart. And his dignity, according to some.” Eeeek the way she announced their baby on the way! Ok I’m not going to lie, that was like the best epilogue ever. Tropes: grumpy sunshine, opposites attract, different stations in life
June 29, 2023
Quick and easy. If you care about that sort of thing.
This is a story you read if you want a simple romance without much depth to its plot or proper development for its characters. If you want something that's mildly cute, clean, and free from gratuitousness (sex, violence, etc), then by golly, this one is for you. It may not be my taste, but I won't fault this story for being safe and tame. For plenty of readers, these aspects alone make for great reading. And hey, more power to those folks.
As for me? This story very much missed the mark, and no amount of "cutesiness" could save it. The problems I had were numerous, from characters (badly developed) to plot (boring).
Neither Felicity nor Mandrick were fleshed out to be believable. They both were generic with bland personalities to boot. Outside of a few clichéd moments, there was generally an almost total lack of funniness, charm, or even simple uniqueness between them. The amount of time they spent together was glaringly miniscule to justify ANY sort of "love." Because of this, much of their story felt more just told to me than shown. It also didn't help that the interactions between them felt forced, awkward, corny, or some mix of the three.
As far as the plot goes, it was honestly just super uninteresting and at times downright boring. What little bit of "tension" it had was also woefully predictable and unsurprising. There's no real angst going on here, no serious drama to lull any sort of emotional response out of me. I found nothing exciting or worthy of laughter. I was not moved to tears, not eagerly flipping pages. It may have been cute at first teaching Felicity how to flirt and be a lady, but to make nearly the ENTIRE book just about this plot point with little to nothing else more meaningful? Yawn.
All in all, I'm glad this was an easy read. I was definitely bored with it and got to a point that I was anxious for it to end. Looks like I'm gonna pass on the remainder of the series.
This is a story you read if you want a simple romance without much depth to its plot or proper development for its characters. If you want something that's mildly cute, clean, and free from gratuitousness (sex, violence, etc), then by golly, this one is for you. It may not be my taste, but I won't fault this story for being safe and tame. For plenty of readers, these aspects alone make for great reading. And hey, more power to those folks.
As for me? This story very much missed the mark, and no amount of "cutesiness" could save it. The problems I had were numerous, from characters (badly developed) to plot (boring).
Neither Felicity nor Mandrick were fleshed out to be believable. They both were generic with bland personalities to boot. Outside of a few clichéd moments, there was generally an almost total lack of funniness, charm, or even simple uniqueness between them. The amount of time they spent together was glaringly miniscule to justify ANY sort of "love." Because of this, much of their story felt more just told to me than shown. It also didn't help that the interactions between them felt forced, awkward, corny, or some mix of the three.
As far as the plot goes, it was honestly just super uninteresting and at times downright boring. What little bit of "tension" it had was also woefully predictable and unsurprising. There's no real angst going on here, no serious drama to lull any sort of emotional response out of me. I found nothing exciting or worthy of laughter. I was not moved to tears, not eagerly flipping pages. It may have been cute at first teaching Felicity how to flirt and be a lady, but to make nearly the ENTIRE book just about this plot point with little to nothing else more meaningful? Yawn.
All in all, I'm glad this was an easy read. I was definitely bored with it and got to a point that I was anxious for it to end. Looks like I'm gonna pass on the remainder of the series.
June 10, 2024
Update 6/10/2024- Re-read in preparation for book 2 and I just love it SO MUCH
————————————
Is this… could it be… a stiff Mr. Darcy flavored hero done well?
This was just unnecessarily adorable 😭
What is it about a romance when the hero drops the “She is MINE!”?!?!? Why it make the heart do the weebly-wobbly thing and make all the stomach butterflies do the fluttering thing? 😫 -insert keyboard smash here-
The only Emotionally Repressed Big Brooding Hero I will accept has now become Big Brooding turns into Blissfully Obsessed Puppy Boy Who Now Talks About Feelings
Side note, there’s a secondary romance here is well that is actually pretty cute but I wish would have been developed more.
And Also, minor quibble but WHY in HEAVENS NAME do we not get Felicity calling the Duke by his perfectly respectable name William (which I actually had to LOOK UP since it is NEVER USED IN CONVERSATION even though we were told they were on Christian name basis)? Instead he is constantly referred to by his title, Mandrick, which is a truly awful name that I kept misreading as ‘mandrake’ and thus conjured terrible images of root vegetables with faces (if you know you know 😖)
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Is this… could it be… a stiff Mr. Darcy flavored hero done well?
This was just unnecessarily adorable 😭
What is it about a romance when the hero drops the “She is MINE!”?!?!? Why it make the heart do the weebly-wobbly thing and make all the stomach butterflies do the fluttering thing? 😫 -insert keyboard smash here-
The only Emotionally Repressed Big Brooding Hero I will accept has now become Big Brooding turns into Blissfully Obsessed Puppy Boy Who Now Talks About Feelings
Side note, there’s a secondary romance here is well that is actually pretty cute but I wish would have been developed more.
And Also, minor quibble but WHY in HEAVENS NAME do we not get Felicity calling the Duke by his perfectly respectable name William (which I actually had to LOOK UP since it is NEVER USED IN CONVERSATION even though we were told they were on Christian name basis)? Instead he is constantly referred to by his title, Mandrick, which is a truly awful name that I kept misreading as ‘mandrake’ and thus conjured terrible images of root vegetables with faces (if you know you know 😖)
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